Diamond softball hammers Miller in Nychelle Goad Memorial Game

Tuesday

Sep 10, 2013 at 12:01 AMSep 10, 2013 at 11:25 PM

Tuesday’s varsity softball game between Miller and Diamond at Diamond High School had a special meaning for Diamond softball coach Kelsey Henson, and the fact that her team won the game 13-6 made it even better.

Levi Payton

Tuesday’s varsity softball game between Miller and Diamond at Diamond High School had a special meaning for Diamond softball coach Kelsey Henson, and the fact that her team won the game 13-6 made it even better.

The game, officially known as the Nychelle Goad Memorial Game, was played in honor of Nychelle Goad, a former Diamond standout and 2010 graduate who passed away in 2011 at age 19 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

The game meant a little extra to Henson, a former teammate of Goad’s at Diamond during the 2006-07 seasons, Henson’s junior and senior years, respectively. She said honoring her former teammate was a special moment for her and her team.

“It was very cool,” Henson said. “It was nice to win it for her. I knew some of the girls on the team now grew up in middle school watching her play, and I got to play with her myself. It was pretty special to honor her. It was pretty cool.”

Nychelle’s parents, Travis and Carol Goad, were on hand to throw out the first pitch. Once the game was underway, the Lady Wildcats quickly took control.

Diamond (5-3, 3-0 Spring River Valley Conference) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning before adding three more in the second, four in the third and two more in the fifth. Senior Hanna Million popped a solo homer to lead off the fifth.

Bailey Bien led the charge at the plate, however, as she fell a home run shy of hitting for the cycle and had an RBI. Tressia Green had a double and two RBIs. Macie Seward had two hits and an RBI. Alyssa Anderson and Alyssa Fields both had a hit and Anderson added an RBI.

Green, meanwhile, earned the victory on the mound with six strikeouts and three walks in the complete game effort. She allowed four earned runs.

“It doesn’t look like it, but it took us a little while to get adjusted,” Henson said. “But then we kind of took off.”

Miller won the B game 7-5.

Diamond travels to Marionville for a 4:30 p.m. tilt on Thursday.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.